End of Forever: Part 2:
Weeks later, after the horsemen returned from anothersuccessful raid, the others had seem to have forgotten about Meshda. Methos hadn't seen her in several days, and was beginning to wonder if she had tried to escape unnoticed, or worse. He searched the camp high and low, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Brother?" Silas asked Methos, when he noticed the worried look on Methos's face. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, Silas, just looking for something I've lost."
"That sickly looking slave?" Methos nodded. "I worried too, but another slave said she had seen her by the river yesterday. Maybe she's still there? Yes?"
"Yes, Silas, maybe so. Has Kronos or Caspian noticed her missing?"
"Do they ever?" he said with a light grin. "Only if they want to use them do they notice they're missing."
"I'll go look for her, but make sure no one gets suspicious. I will..."
"Brothers!" Kronos said, coming up behind them and slapping them on their backs affectionately. "It was a good ride today, no?"
"Very good brother." Methos answered. "You have more treasures to add to your collection."
"Ah yes, but I did not see you enjoying yourself today, Methos. Is anything bothering you?"
"No, brother, I am just tired."
"The sickly slave wearing you out? Meshda, I think her name is. I noticed you seem to spend a lot of time with her. I'm glad to see you have chosen another woman to be with. Speaking of which, I think it's about time I've had my way with her. Where is she? Have either of you seen her?"
Methos looked at Silas as a wave of panic hit him. If Kronos found out she was missing, he would be in such a rage that if Meshda were found and brought back, Kronos would take great pleasure in raping and killing her in front of the whole camp. He might even go after Methos, since he thought Methos had taken her as his lover.
"She is by the river," Silas answered.
"Go and bring her to my tent. If she has gone without food this long, I know a nourishment she must have," He said, as he grinned and walked back to his tent.
"Silas, will you..."
"I will take my horse and search the surrounding camps."
"Thank you, brother," Methos said, as he walked outside the camp and towards the river. The river was close enough so the horsemen could see the slaves, but it gave them the freedom to wander outside the camp as long as they didn't wander too far. He followed the river downstream, thinking the waterfalls was where she would be. He was right.
She was bathing, and Methos stood watching her, awestruck. She had always worn a tunic way to big for her, and this was the first time he'd been able to see her figure. They had all been gravely mistaken in her appearance. From the waist down, she was tiny, her upper body was both well endowed and well built. Not wanting to disturb what looked like the first peaceful time to herself, Methos sat behind a tree and watched her.
Methos could have had any of the slaves in the camp, but since he'd lost his passion for the horsemen's daily routine, he'd lost his passion for the slaves. But since they had captured Meshda, he'd developed different feelings for her. Seeing her now, naked and facing him, he was growing hard. He moaned as he unlaced his pants to relieve some of the tension. It was little comfort, and as he continued to watch her, he began to stroke himself.
Meshda heard a noise and looked around. *Surely the horsemen have realized I'm gone by now,* she thought. She had intended to run like hell while they were gone, but instead she followed the river downstream and felt at peace at the waterfalls. It was as if she had become one with her surroundings, and everything from her life before being held captive had disappeared. She knew she was taking a risk being this close to the camp. If they found her, she'd be beaten to death. She had seen it done a few times to others, and she refused to let it happen to her. Even though the one that called himself Methos had been nice to her, he was one of them. He had helped kill her village and then had brought her to a place where she had experienced more torture than she had ever had to deal with before.
She saw movement in the grass near a tree and called out, "Who's there?"
Methos was about to loose control in his fantasy about Meshda being the one stroking him, when he was distracted by a loud voice calling out. He regained his composure and sat up. "It's Methos," he answered. Meshda turned pale and ran to the water's edge, and then downstream.
"Meshda wait!" he called after her.
"I won't go back to the camp with you! I'd rather die!" she said, as she tripped over a log and fell back into the river. She tried to get back up, but her leg wouldn't support her.
Methos caught up with her and lent her a hand. "Can you stand?"
"Not if you're going to take me back. You'll have to carry me kicking and screaming the whole way."
"I'm sure Kronos would enjoy that. He told Silas and me to find you and take you back so he can have his way with you."
"And I guess you'd like to watch. After all, you were watching me while I bathed," she said, trying to stand. She stumbled backwards, right into his arms.
"Fine," he said picking her feather-light naked body up and throwing her over his shoulder. "Have it your way."
"Put me down!" she said, pounding her fists into his back. "Put me down or I'll kill you!"
Methos dropped her on the ground. "We can either do this the hard way, or my way. Which is it going to be?"
"Neither, if I have to go back to the camp!"
"Then we'll do this my way. If you can't walk, then I'm going to pick you up, but I'm not going to take you back. Understand?"
"Why should I trust you?"
"I could leave you here for Silas to find you then you'll die. Or you can trust me."
"Where are you going to take me?"
"There's an abandoned camp on the other side of the river and past that field. No one will think to look for you there. I'll go back to the camp and tell Kronos I found your body you died of starvation."
Meshda let out a laugh. It was the first time Methos had ever seen her smile. It was at that moment he realized how beautiful she was. "What's so funny?" he said, cocking his head to the side.
"What makes you think I'd starve to death?"
"I've never seen you eat anything. None of us have."
"That doesn't mean I haven't eaten. You mean I've shared a tent with you, and you not once noticed that I sneaked out at night?"
"I knew you did, and I knew you came to the river. I just didn't know why."
"Every night since I've shared a tent with you, I've come out here and hunted food, fish, meat, or just roots. Some nights I've had a better meal than you horsemen."
"I imagine so. But if I didn't know that, odds are Kronos doesn't either. Now we need to get going. Kronos will send someone after me soon if I don't return. Can you stand?"
Meshda nodded and then stood. But when she started to fall, Methos put her arm around his shoulder for support. "It's not that far. The hardest part will be crossing the river, and I'll carry you across." They walked to the waters edge and he picked her up. He carried her across and on the other side, he hesitated before putting her down.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "You're risking your life for mine."
"What makes you think you're the only one who wants to escape?" he said, looking into her eyes.
"But I thought..."
"Look, there is a lot you don't know about me. Things you most likely wouldn't understand. Do you think I enjoy killing and raping?"
"But..."
"Not anymore. I used to, but after awhile it didn't feel. I want to change, I want to have a normal life again. A life with..." he trailed off as he leaned down to kiss her. It was a soft kiss, but one filled with the hope that she would allow more. When she didn't respond, he pulled back. "I'm sorry."
"No, I... I mean..."
"The camp is just over there," he said, as they started walking again. "I'll drop you off and head back to the other camp. After everyone falls asleep, I'll come back and check on you. Is there anything you'd like me to bring back for you?" she shook her head, and they walked in silence the rest of the way.
When they got there, he settled her in and lit a fire outside the tent. This had been one of the first villages they had raided when they first came to this area, and it had been deserted for years. Methos had come back every once in awhile to think, and had fixed what little bit of it he could. It wasn't what she was used to, but it would do. "I should be back in a few hours. Keep this," he said handing her his knife. "If anyone comes looking for you use this. Are you sure you're going to be all right?" she nodded. Methos wanted to kiss her, but decided if he did, he'd definitely want more. Instead, he walked out of the tent and headed back to the horsemen's camp.
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Kronos was waiting impatiently when Methos returned. "Did you find her?" Methos nodded. "Where is she? Why didn't you bring her back?"
Methos had his head hanging face sorrowful. Slowly he lifted his head to look into Kronos's eyes. "I found her body. She had starved to death."
"Then where is her body, brother? Surely you brought it back as a prize." Methos shook his head. "What did you do with it, then?"
"I threw it into the river to let it float downstream. An animal had gotten to the corpse, and it would have been no good as a prize," he said, walking back towards his tent. For several weeks, Meshda had been waiting for him to return. Now he had come home knowing she wasn't coming back.
"Brother," Silas said as he entered the tent, "you seem sad."
"Yes, Silas, I am."
"I liked her. She was nice to me, but she's much better off dead. No one should have to put up with the torture and humiliation Kronos brought to her daily.
"Would you like me to keep you company?"
"I liked her too. But I'd like to be alone right now."
Silas nodded. "When you're ready for another, let me know. I will give you my best." Methos managed a smile and Silas walked out.
Methos lay on his cot and starred at the ceiling of the tent. Silas was right, no one should have to go through that abuse constantly, yet the Four Horseman did it every day when they massacred a village. And now Methos was beginning to feel like he was one of those slaves. Always doing as he was told, when he was older than Kronos, Silas, and Caspian put together. He shouldn't have to live in fear that if he left. He'd just have to work on it, and slowly.